The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for neoplasm of the kidney to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records from May 2023 onwards, as there is evidence suggesting possible recurrence of kidney cancer.
The deciding factor: The failure to obtain relevant VA treatment records prior to the issuance of the decision appeal is a pre-decisional duty to assist error requiring remand.
- Claimed conditions
- neoplasm of the kidney
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2025
- Citation
- A25029474
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 785 · Granted: 47% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25029474.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings were dismissed. The appeal for bilateral recurrent ear wax impaction was dismissed, as the Veteran withdrew his claim. Appeals for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), erectile dysfunction, residuals from neoplasm of the kidney, and hypertension were also dismissed.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 26, 2011 for the award of service connection for neoplasm of the kidney, nephrectomy associated with neoplasm of the kidney, and scarring associated with nephrectomy.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including neoplasm of the kidney and lung cancer, effective October 2, 2020, based on herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.
- Partly granted
The veteran's rating for kidney cancer was restored to 100% effective October 8, 2015. Service connection for hypertension as secondary to the kidney cancer was granted.
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